Club info
On the heels of a sensational Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut season, Unics will now try to get back to dominate in the Eurocup. Unics had a great start of the season and finished third in its regular season group. A 3-0 start in the Top 16 eventually allowed the club to reach the playoffs. Unics, however, lost its final six Euroleague games, which left a bitter taste to an otherwise great season. Unics placed fifth in the Russian League and reached the VTB League title game before losing 74-62 against CSKA Moscow. Founded in 1991, Unics secured a berth in Russia's first division in 1997 and became the perfect ambassador for the sports-crazy Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation. The club reached the Russian League finals in 2001 and 2002, the year in which it also made it to the Saporta Cup semifinals. Its hard work paid off in 2003, when Unics downed CSKA 81-82 in overtime to lift the Russian Cup trophy. In 2004, Kazan was home to the FIBA Europe League final four and Unics made the most of it by downing Maroussi 87-63 in the title game to win its first continental title behind 22 points from MVP Martin Muursepp. A new challenge came in the 2005-06 season, when Unics made its ULEB Cup debut. Unics looked string after losing just once at home and winning its regular season group, however Virtus Roma knocked Unics off in the eighthfinals. Unics reunited the Lavrinovic twins – Darjus and Ksistof – for the next season along with Yahor Meshcharakou and Dusko Savanovic to reach the ULEB Cup semifinals, but then lost to eventual champ Real Madrid. It also reached the Russian League finals, but CSKA stood in its way. In 2007-08, Unics made it to the ULEB Cup Final Eight before falling to Akasvayu Girona in the quarterfinals. Everything clicked in the 2010-11 Eurocup as Unics won its regular season and Last 16 groups and swept its quarterfinal series against Pepsi Caserta. Once in the Finals, Unics thrashed Cedevita 87-66 in the semifinals behind 27 points from Terrell Lyday and registered a 92-77 win over Cajasol Sevilla in the title game. Marko Popovic had 18 points and a Eurocup final record 11 assists to lead Unics to the title. In the Russian League, Unics marched to a 21-6 record to finish the regular season atop the standings, but lost a grueling five-game semifinals duel against BC Khimki Moscow Region. Last season’s impressive Euroleague debut showed that the club has what it takes to compete at the highest levels.
Trophy Case
Eurocup: 2011
FIBA Europe League: 2004
Russian National Cup: 2003, 2009